Method and machine for winding a plurality of narrow width fins severed from a ribbon of predetermined width, about a tube



y 1957 c. J. SCHMELING 2,800,944

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WINDING A PLURALITY OF NARROW WIDTH FINS SEVE DFROM A BON OF PREDETERMINED TH, ABOU TUBE Filed March 31, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet l July 30, 1957 c. J. SCHMELING 2,300,944

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WINDING A PLURALITY OF NARROW WIDTH FINSSEVEREDFROM A RIBBON OF PREDETERMINED WIDTH, ABOUT A TUBE Filed March 31, 19552 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY m n United States Patent() METHOD AND MACHINE FOR WINDING A PLU-RALITY F NARROW WIDTH FINS SEVERED FROM A RIBBON 0F PREDETERMINED WIDTH,ABOUT A TUBE Carl'J. Schmeling, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to CarrierCorporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationMarch 31, 1955, Serial No. 498,161

4 Claims. (Cl. 153-645) This invention relates to finning machines and amethod of forming a plurality of helically extending fins about arotating and advancing tube and, more particularly, to a method andmachine by which a plurality of thin strips of material, preferablymetal, may be helically wound around a tube and secured thereon in oneoperation.

' In Stikeleather application, Serial No. 189,854, filed October 12,1950, issued July 19, 1955, as Patent No. 2,713,375, there is discloseda machine for forming a smooth surface fin about a tube. The smoothfinned tubes formed by this machine are highly satisfactory when used asheat exchange surfaces. The machines, however, are expensive in initialcost so that large sums of money may be required for capital investmentif it is desired to employ a number of machines.

t The present invention is concerned with improvements in this type ofmachine and the method of operation thereof which permit increasedproduction of finned tubing formed thereon in the order of 50% to 100%with only a relatively minor increase in the cost of the machine.

This invention relates to apparatus for forming a plurality of smoothfins about a rotating and advancing tube in which two ribbons may bewound simultaneously about the tube to form alternate fins thereonthereby greatly increasing the production of the machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine for forming aplurality of fins about a tube in which spacing members are provided tospace the separate helices upon the tube.

This invention further relates to a method of winding a plurality offins about a rotating and advancing tube in which overlapped ribbons areformed into helices about a tube, the helices being separated and spacedlongitudinally of the tube and attached thereto. Other objects of theinvention will be readily perceived from the following description.

This invention relates to a method of winding a plurality of fins abouta rotating and advancing tube in which the steps consist in feeding aribbon of predetermined width to a tube, severing the ribbon during itspassage to the tube into sections of smaller width, overlapping thesections in substantially face-to-face engagement, passing theoverlapped sections through forming rolls to wind the sections intohelices about the tube, passing the overlapped helices together throughthe first pass of a series of spacing members, separating the heliceslongitudinally of the tube, and passing the separated helices throughalternate passes in the series of spacing members to secure the helicesupon the tube. I

This invention further relates to apparatus for winding a plurality offins about a rotating and advancing tube comprising, in combination,means for supplying a ribbon of predetermined width to a tube, means tosever the ribbon into sections of smaller width during its passage tothe tube, means to place the severed sections in substantiallyface-to-face engagement, forming rolls for Winding the sections while inface-to-face engagement helically about the tube and a series of spacingmembers for separating and spacing the helices longitudinally of thetube.

The attached, drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating thefinning machine of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating the manner in which the fins on thetube are separated and spaced by the spacing members;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the arrangement shown in Figure 2;and

Figure 4 is a view in end elevation of the arrangement shown in Figures2 and 3.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, there isshown a modified finning machine of the type shown in StikeleatherPatent No. 2,713,375. This machine includes a head (not shown) forrotating and advancing a tube 2 and suitable support members for thetube during its rotation and advancement. A forming roll 3 cooperateswith a disk roll 4 to stretch the peripheral portion of a ribbon orribbons and to wind the ribbons about the tube 2. A series of separatingand spacing members 5 are provided for a purpose hereinafter explained.Members 5 are rotated preferably at a speed somewhat faster than thespeed at which the tube is rotated and advanced. Any suitable means maybe provided to rotate members 5.

A ribbon 6 of aluminum or copper is passed to the tube 2 from anysuitable source of supply, such as a reel or a. slitting machine of thetype shown in Stikeleather Patent No. 2,696,882, granted December 14,1954. Ribbon 6 during its passage to the tube 2 passes through a set offreely rotatable cutting rolls 7 which severs or slits ribbon 6 into twosections 8 and 9 smaller in width than ribbon 6.

The sections 8, 9 of ribbon pass to pulleys 10 and 11, such as idlerrollers, and during their progress from rolls 7 to the idlers 10, 11 areturned at an angle of approximately to the direction of the ribbonduring the slitting operation. Sections 8 and 9, from pulleys 10, 11,are then passed to a guide 12 which places the sections in overlapped,substantially face-to-face engagement with each other. If desired,suitable tensioning means may be applied against one or both sections inorder to assure that both sections are fed evenly to the forming rolls.From guide 12 the sections 8, 9 are passed over idlers 13, 14 whichseparate the overlapped sections and place the separated sections in aplane at approximately right angles: to the plane of the axis of thetube being provided with fins. The sections while in such plane arepassed to a second guide 15 which places the sections again infaceto-face engagement. The sections are then passed to the formingrolls 3, 4.

The sections 8, 9, pass between forming roll 3 and disk roll 4 while inface-to-face engagement, the rolls stretching the exterior or peripheralportion of the sections to wind the sections about the tube in the formof helices.

Referring now to the series of spacing members 5, it will be observedthat at least six members are provided which cooperate to form a seriesof five passes through which the helices on the tube must pass. At leastone set, that is two adjacent spacing members, are provided withserrations, serrations on one member being placed opposite recesses onthe adjacent member. If desired, of course, all of the spacing membersmay be provided with serrations although this is not generallynecessary.

The overlapped helices pass together through the first passage betweenspacing members. As the helices leave this passage they begin toseparate, one helix passing tothe second passage in the series ofspacing members, while the other helix passes to the third passage inthe series of spacing members. Thus, the separated helices pass FatentedJuly 30, 1957 through alternate passages in the series of spacingmembers so that the spacing members serve to space the helices upon thetube as the tube continues to rotate and advance; and likewise: serve totighten the helices, upon the tube.

. While I' have stated that the gseriesof spacingmembers may be drivenby any suitablemeahs ,it willbe appreciated that ordinarily these rollsare driven by thesam e mechanism which operates the head oftheimachineandthe forming-roll of the machine. It may be. connectedthereto by any suitable means such as the belt 17' and pulley 18, shownin Figure 1. Considering the operationof; machine; ribbon 6 from anysuitable source of supply isdrawn-by. rolls Sand 4 t r sh r e y r tatablcutt n am lsl wh h .the ribboninto two sections of smaller width, 8, 9;Sect n 9 tur edat ent n le; of ppr x m ely 9 tothedirection of theribbon; during the slit-ting operation and are s d v p er s it to ui eiz which p ce he s i n in ver appi g er as re at o tiorls 8', 9-areth enseparated and passed over idler pulleys 13,14 to place the separatedsections in; adjacent planes approximately transverse to the axis of thetube on which the fins'are beingformed. SectionsB, 9 then; pass through'guide '15 which serves to feed the sections in parallel 4 vention. Nomore than the usual amount of waste ribbon is created by the use of thepresent invention; The present invention provides a relatively simple,inexpensive method of forming smooth finned tubing by winding aplurality of ribbons about a tube simultaneous-' ly. While the inventionhas been described as employing two sections which are woundsimultaneously about'af tube, it will be understood that three, four ormore sectionsmay be supplied to the tube and wound thereaboutsimultaneously.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of the" invention, it willbe understood that the invention is not face-to-face engagement toformingrolls 3, 4. Forming passes in the series of spacing members whichserveto space and to secure the helices in desiredposition upon thetube. These spacingmembers also serve to remove any curves or wavesinthe peripheraledges ofthelfins so formed so that smooth finned tubes maybe provided.

For example, both sections 8,9, of the slit ribbon will pass through,the first pass-marked A oftheseries of" spacing members, as shown inFigures land 3; after' leaving the first pass, the sections begin toseparate,

section 8 passing through passes B and D of the series of spacingmembers while section 9 passes through passes C and E of the, series ofspacing members. The tins so formed onthe tube are secured to the tube.I

It will be understood at start-up,'the helices are passed through thespacing members manually and then'secured in any desired way to thetube. Thereafter the machine is operated manually to formthe helicesabout thetube and to space and separate the helices on the tubes 7 v Itwill be appreciated the present invention is applicable 7 to other;types of firming machines in which, for example, the severed sectionsmay be crimped whilein overla pping face-to-face relation and passedseparately through ironing rolls to the tube, or if desired, theseveredsections may be formed into helices-which are then-disposed i about atube. The present inventionmay'be employed to space the separate helicesin desired spaced position upon the tube. stances spacing members mayalso be employed if desired to rotate and advance the tube itself bytightening the separate helices upon the tube, thisptightening action occurring 'while the fins are upon thetube so that. the tube is rotatedand advanced indirectly through the fins.

The present invention provides a modified 'finning machine which permitsproduction of smooth finned tubing to be increased'greatly. Thisincrease in production is obtained with only minor increase in initialcost of the machine. .Labor expenses encountered during the operation ofthe machine are substantially decreased since each'operator'canproduceapproximately 50% to 100% more smooth finned tubing. by the useof 'the'present in:

properly spaced and I have found that under some circum limited theretosince it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. in a method of winding a plurality. of fins about a rotating andadvancing tube, the steps which consist in feeding a ribbonofpredetermined width toa tube, severing the ribbon during its passage-'tothe. tube into of smaller width, overlapping thesectionsin.substantially face-to-face engagement, passing. the overlappedsections, through forming rolls towind the sections inadjacent planesapproximately transverse to the axis of lthe tube into helices about thetube while maintaining themin face-to-face engagement, passing. the,overlapped-helices; together while still in face-to-face engagementthrough at least the first pass of a series of spacing members, and;then separating the helices longitudinally of the tube; While passingthe separated helices through alternate; passes in the series of spacingmembers to secure the,

helices upon the tube.

2. In a method of winding placing the separated sections insubstantially face-to:

face engagement, passing the sections while maintain-v ing them inface-to-face engagement through forming rolls to wind the sections intohelices aboutthe tube,

passing the overlapped helices together while still in face. to-faceengagement through the first pass of a, series of spacing members,separating the helices longitudinally of the tube, and then passingtheseparated helices through. alternate passes in a series of spacingmembersto. se-. cure the helices upon the tube while continuingrotationand advance of the tube.

3. In apparatusfor winding a plurality of fins about a.

rotating and advancing tube, the combination, of means. for supplying aribbon of predetermined width to a tube,

cutting mechanism to sever the ribbon into sections of;

smaller width during its passage to the tube, a .guide member, idlerpulleys to direct the sections into overlapping relation during passagethrough the guide member, idler pulleys to place the overlapped sectionsapproximately transverse to the axis of the'tube, a second guide memberfor guiding the sections while in substantially face-,to-face engagementto the tube, forming rolls for winding the sections While inface-to-face engagement helically about the tube, and a series ofspacing members'f or separating and spacing the heliceslongitudinally of'the tube, the helices passing together through the first pass of theseries in face-to-face engagement and then separately through alternatepasses in the series as the tube-rotates and advancesv 4. In apparatusfor winding a plurality of fins about during its passage to the tube,means; to place the severed sections in substantially face-to-face"engagement, forma plurality of fins about a,

. rotating and advancing tube, the steps which consist in feeding aribbon of predetermined Width to atube, sevening the ribbon during itspassage to the tube into sections. of smaller width, turning the severedsections of ribbon,; overlapping the turned sections in substantiallyface-to face engagement, separating the overlapped sections, placing theseparated sections in adjacent planes ap. proximately transverse to theaxis of the tube, again.

ing rolls for winding the sections while in face-to-face engagementhelically about the tube and a series of spacing members for separatingand spacing the helices longitudinally of the tube, the space betweenthe spacing members varying so that the helices pass through at leastthe first pass of the series in face-to-face engagement and then throughalternate passes in the series as the tube rotates and advances.

1,143,211 Lobley June 15, 1915 6 Dreyer Mar. 23, 1943 Bronander Mar. 4,1947 Edwards Dec. 8, 1953 Stikeleather Dec. 14, 1954 Stikeleather July19, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 4, 1897 Austria July 10, 1919

